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In 1992, the city bought 35 acres (14 ha) from the Dreiling family to begin assembly property for a park in southeast Hillsboro.[2] The family had lived on the land in excess of 40 years before selling.[2] An additional 25 acres (100,000 m2) was added from the nearby wastewater plant and from floodplain along Rock Creek and the Tualatin River.[2] Hillsboro received almost $990,000 in funds from Metro in 1995 as its allocation of funds from a regional bond measure that paid for increasing greenspaces in the Portland metropolitan area.[3] Part of these funds were designated for developing a park along the Tualatin River.[3]

Flooding in February 1996 fell around 100 trees on the property and added other debris.[2] In 1997, SOLV and Intel helped clear some of the debris at the park site.[2] In May 1997, the city hired a contractor to build a boat launch for small craft, trails, and a parking lot at a cost of $771,000.[4] Later that year volunteers from SOLV planted trees and other plants at the park site.[5] In February 1998, the city worked with the Rotary Club to plan and pay for a building at the park to be used as meeting space.[6] The $275,000 building was built beginning in the Spring of that year.[7]

During construction of the park there were problems with the contractor CEMS Inc., with lawsuits filed by both sides.[8] The city was ordered to pay in excess of $200,000 to resolve the dispute.[8] When the park's initial construction was completed in 1999, the day-use park opened.[2] A that time the park had the boat launch, tennis courts, trails (two miles worth, one mile (1.6 km) paved), two pedestrian bridges, a pond, picnic areas, parking, and the River House designed for accommodating meetings.[2][9] Funds for the work came from Metro, private donations, the Tualatin Valley Water Quality Fund, and city funds.[2] Total costs for construction of the initial phases of the park were about $1.3 million.[8]

In 2001 to 2002, the park went through over $600,000 in upgrades partially paid for by a grant from the Oregon Lottery that added play equipment, trails, landscaping, viewpoints, and picnic areas among others.[9] In 2001, construction began on the Lloyd Baron Rhododendron Garden at the park to build a 1.5-acre (0.61 ha) facility for the city’s official flower.[10]

In late 2007, the city drained the Woodland Pond to construct a pavilion on its shore along with repairs to the pond itself using city funds and private donations.[11][12] Other work was done to the pedestrian bridges and the walkways around the pond, and two waterfalls were added.[13] On May 17, 2008, the Woodland Pond viewing pavilion was dedicated and the pond area re-opened along with a new water feature.[14] Construction of the new items and renovations totaled approximately $225,000 in costs.[15] Plans call for connecting the park via a nature park and trail along Rock Creek to northeast Hillsboro and other parks in the city, eventually crossing north of the Sunset Highway.[16] The park closed for a day in July 2014 due to reports of a cougar.[17]

Officially 60.1 acres (24.3 ha), the city also utilizes an additional 15 acres (6.1 ha) through an agreement with Clean Water Services that operates a wastewater treatment plant adjacent to the community park.[18] An area of 43 acres (170,000 m2) of the park is covered by a forest and floodplain.[18] One of twenty-three parks in Hillsboro, Rood Bridge is located along the Tualatin River and Rock Creek where the two water bodies meet.[19][20] The park is accessed by Rood Bridge Road where Rood Bridge crosses the Tualatin.[21] Wildlife at the park includes woodpeckers and owls among others.[22]

River House at Rood Bridge Park

Rood Bridge Park has wooded areas as well as grass covered sections, both crossed by biking and hiking trails.[22] Paved trails total 12,089 feet (3,685 m) in length while other trails total 6,172 feet (1,881 m) in length.[18] There are also restrooms, a small boat launch, and onsite parking.[18] Recreation equipment includes a play area for children and a pair of tennis courts.[18] The park is also used as the home course for Hillsboro High School’s cross-country team,[23] including hosting the Bill Chapman Invitational race.[24]

The park includes the Lloyd Baron Rhododendron Garden that contains in excess of 550 species of the plant and includes a pond.[22] The rhododendron is the official flower of the city.[14][25] The garden covers 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) and has both natural and hybrid species.[10] A concrete and stone pavilion sits on the shore of Woodland Pond and is used for events such as wedding ceremonies.[22][26] There are also two waterfalls on the pond, with the waterfalls and pavilion designed by Sadafumi Uchiyama, Bob Schatz, and Ross NW Warergardens.[15] The garden came after decades of lobbying for a garden at a city park for the species.[27]

Also at Rood Bridge Park is the nearly 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) River House. The lodge type structure is used for educational classes as well as private functions such as weddings.[2] River House was paid for in part by city development fees and by donations of money, labor, and material from the Rotary Club.[6] The building includes a central meeting room (Great Room), a kitchen, restrooms, a small meeting room, and an activity room.[6] The Great Room features a fireplace, maple floors, vaulted ceilings, a small sunroom, and covers 1,260 square feet (117 m2).[28] The activity room is also used as a classroom and totals 672 square feet (62.4 m2).[28] The River House is 2,845 square feet (264.3 m2) and the annex is an additional 640 square feet (59 m2) and can hold 75 people.[18][28]